Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores

Background. Morphological characterization of hemodialysis membranes is necessary to improve pore design. Aim. To delineate membrane pore structure of a high flux filter, Polyflux 210H. Methods. We used a Joel JSM-6010LV scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a SU6600 Hitachi field emission scanning...

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Main Authors: A. Hedayat, J. Szpunar, N. A. P. Kiran Kumar, R. Peace, H. Elmoselhi, A. Shoker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Nephrology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/304135
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author A. Hedayat
J. Szpunar
N. A. P. Kiran Kumar
R. Peace
H. Elmoselhi
A. Shoker
author_facet A. Hedayat
J. Szpunar
N. A. P. Kiran Kumar
R. Peace
H. Elmoselhi
A. Shoker
author_sort A. Hedayat
collection DOAJ
description Background. Morphological characterization of hemodialysis membranes is necessary to improve pore design. Aim. To delineate membrane pore structure of a high flux filter, Polyflux 210H. Methods. We used a Joel JSM-6010LV scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a SU6600 Hitachi field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) to characterize the pore and fiber morphology. The maximal diameters of selected uremic toxins were calculated using the macromolecular modeling Crystallographic Object-Oriented Toolkit (COOT) software. Results. The mean pore densities on the outermost and innermost surfaces of the membrane were 36.81% and 5.45%, respectively. The membrane exhibited a tortuous structure with poor connection between the inner and outer pores. The aperture’s width in the inner surface ranged between 34 and 45 nm, which is 8.76–11.60 times larger than the estimated maximum diameter of β2-microglobulin (3.88 nm). Conclusion. The results suggest that the diameter size of inner pore apertures is not a limiting factor to middle molecules clearance, the extremely diminished density is. Increasing inner pore density and improving channel structure are strategies to improve clearance of middle molecules.
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institution Kabale University
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series International Journal of Nephrology
spelling doaj-art-8149d3f85657471e90eb849cae681de72025-08-20T03:35:06ZengWileyInternational Journal of Nephrology2090-214X2090-21582012-01-01201210.1155/2012/304135304135Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter PoresA. Hedayat0J. Szpunar1N. A. P. Kiran Kumar2R. Peace3H. Elmoselhi4A. Shoker5College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, 105 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E4, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A9, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A9, CanadaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A9, CanadaSaskatchewan Transplant Program, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1702, 20th Street West, Saskatoon, SK, S7M 0Z9, CanadaSaskatchewan Transplant Program, St. Paul’s Hospital, 1702, 20th Street West, Saskatoon, SK, S7M 0Z9, CanadaBackground. Morphological characterization of hemodialysis membranes is necessary to improve pore design. Aim. To delineate membrane pore structure of a high flux filter, Polyflux 210H. Methods. We used a Joel JSM-6010LV scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a SU6600 Hitachi field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) to characterize the pore and fiber morphology. The maximal diameters of selected uremic toxins were calculated using the macromolecular modeling Crystallographic Object-Oriented Toolkit (COOT) software. Results. The mean pore densities on the outermost and innermost surfaces of the membrane were 36.81% and 5.45%, respectively. The membrane exhibited a tortuous structure with poor connection between the inner and outer pores. The aperture’s width in the inner surface ranged between 34 and 45 nm, which is 8.76–11.60 times larger than the estimated maximum diameter of β2-microglobulin (3.88 nm). Conclusion. The results suggest that the diameter size of inner pore apertures is not a limiting factor to middle molecules clearance, the extremely diminished density is. Increasing inner pore density and improving channel structure are strategies to improve clearance of middle molecules.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/304135
spellingShingle A. Hedayat
J. Szpunar
N. A. P. Kiran Kumar
R. Peace
H. Elmoselhi
A. Shoker
Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores
International Journal of Nephrology
title Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores
title_full Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores
title_fullStr Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores
title_full_unstemmed Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores
title_short Morphological Characterization of the Polyflux 210H Hemodialysis Filter Pores
title_sort morphological characterization of the polyflux 210h hemodialysis filter pores
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/304135
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